Let her go home. Jesus is waiting for her with open arms.

Ramblings' Journal ^ | 3.25.05 | Michael King

[mhking]

My position on the Schiavo matter has vascilated back and forth over the past few days as I've agonized over the matter.

Should she be given a chance at life? If so, what kind of life are we talking about? Is there a chance at rehabilitation? Is Michael Schiavo an evil S.O.B., or is he simply a heart-broken man?

Conversely, is she truly in a vegetative state? A virtual zombie with eyes open, and nothing inside? Are her parents and family in denial about her pain and suffering? Are the evangelicals coming to her aid getting so worked up that they are looking past the true nature of this situation?

Difficult questions these. Who wins? Who loses?

There is no winner here. This situation is heartbreaking at the core. A vibrant woman struck down in the prime of her life. A myriad of doctors, most of whom have indicated that much of her brain tissue has deteriorated and possibly even liquified inside her skull. CAT scans that support that diagnosis.

Conversely, we see her eyes focusing on a balloon, we see her apparently responding to people entering her limited field of vision.

What do we believe?

After 22 different judges have agonized over this, they all have come to the same decision: that her husband has the right to make that agonizing decision.

Talk show host Neil Boortz has taken the stance that Terri Schiavo has earned her place in heaven, and that we, as a people, should let her go home.

Do you believe in God’s promise of everlasting life? Do you believe that the reward for a life well spent on this earth is a life with God in heaven after you die? If you do, then a few more questions if you will.

Do you believe that the human soul can make the transition to everlasting life while the human body that carried that soul through life clings to life on this earth? If you do, then you must surely believe that Terri Schiavo has earned and is already enjoying her reward in heaven. That being the case, why is it so important to you that the now-unneeded body of Terri Schiavo is kept alive?

But perhaps you believe, as I do, that the human soul is so connected to and integrated with its earthly body that any transition will not be made until that body ceases functioning -- until death occurs.. That being the case, why do you so ardently desire that the soul of Terri Schiavo spend five, ten, perhaps 30 years or more trapped in a useless and non-functioning body, unable to move on to whatever reward awaits her? Isn’t 15 years enough?

Where do your concerns truly lie, with the eternal soul of Terri Schiavo, or with her earthly body?

Jesus awaits Terri Schiavo at the gates of heaven with open arms. He will grant her eternal rest. He loves all, no matter which side of this sad story the people are on.

Let her go home. We can only commend her spirit among the angels for the journey.

Sadly, those who damn the judges and politicians and those of us who wish her spirit to move on are going to fracture the fragile fabric of the conservative wing of the GOP. In their zeal to ignore the rule of law and the Constitutional process, they are sliding down the slippery slope of anarchy toward mob rule.

This is a land of laws, not men. And the political problems that are surfacing -- on both sides -- point toward the deterioration of our constitutional republic. Are you ready for that? Are you ready for that will mean in the future?

I weep for Terri Schiavo today. But I fear for more tears in our future, thanks to those who would wad up the Constitutional protections and freedoms wrought by the notion of ignoring the rule of law, simply because those in power didn't get their way.

[rollo tomasi]

Called, wrote, everything in my own power I could do. Should I just get an M-16 leave my 3 year old home alone with a 102 temp and try to take out the deputies myself?

The one with the power to use force is the Bush's. Heck Clinton had more brass b@!!& with Elian and Koresh.

[Kitten1]

Thank you for your kind words.

This is the first comment I've made (written or spoken) on this subject. My friends know my situation and are careful not to bring this up when I'm with them. I have no doubt that they know where I stand.

My thoughts and prayers are with Terri and those who could be put in a similar situation.

[don-o]

But, it's not an Executive Order. It is the DCF moving forward with the power it has to remove individuals from abusive situations; and Jeb can legally (whatever that term means today) order DCF to do its duty.

[ContraryMary]

The Lord is calling her Home. To a place where she will be whole again. God bless her.

[EveningStar]

The judge said they can't.

[redrock]

If (and I am in no position to speak for God) it is Terry Schiavo's turn to go home...then so be it.

But we do not need to make her last few hours on this plane of existence such painful ones.

Death by dehydration is extremely painful and needless.

We don't even put stray dogs ...or the worst death-row inmate for that matter..to death in such a meaningless and cruel way.

At least give her the needle...the same as you would any stray dog.

redrock

[MarMema]

What was God thinking to allow her to live this way for 15 years

Whoo-hoo. Your post is terrific.

[hineybona]

Getting congress ans judges involved in this is a bad idea and could eventually backfire on all us.These are serious family matters.I do not want to someday have to go to a lawyer or some half assed politician for permission to handle a family medical situation the way we decide . I cant believe so many people here who usually want govt to stay the hell out of peoples lives want just the opposite in this case. I've seen normally logical posters on FR come up with the most absurd theories on this case , worthy of the DU wackoos in some cases. This whole situation is very very sad , on many levels

[don-o]

Greer is compromised and should have never heard the pleadings that ensued after Congress legislated on Sunday. A new look at the facts, by definition, requires a look at his decisions. How can he fairly rule on that?

Anybody?

[hineybona]

They wont be future starvation victems.Thats absurd and you know it .

[EveningStar]

The problem is that this case falls within Greer's jurisdiction. I think that only a higher court can overrule him. Perhaps there are some lawyers here who can suggest otherwise.

[rollo tomasi]

Funny, when this Country was established one of the purposes of the government was to get involved to protect life and freedom.

Of course slavery was a big hypocrisy but through civil disobedience and the involvement of government it was corrected. Then came segregation, same applied, government became involved.

Now the same government that was sworn to protect life seems to have a thirst for the exact opposite. Abortion and euthanasia is just a start of things to come. Face it, Government has become involved (Which you hate) to destroy life. Which side would you rather have because face it, government is involved either way.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

No one should paint you as evil. You have thoughtfully and prayerfully stated that Terri's fate lies in the hands of the Creator. Thank you for writing this piece during the Holy Week. Bless you.

[Havoc]

Jesus is waiting for all of us with open arms. Pushing someone into his arms by ending their life unjustly is still MURDER - no matter how one dissembles and attempts to redefine terms in order to make themselves feel better about it. Fatigue is no excuse. Pilate could have done the right thing at any time - had the authority to act and would not. He let
Jesus die unjustly rather than stand up for what's right. Instead of doing what's right and taking the heat, he bowed out and abrogated his responsibility to the mob. In this case it's to the courts. The courts have lost all sense of justice. And the Governor of Florida is asking unjust courts for direction. That's like asking a blind man what color the light at the intersection is.


Bush needs to stop asking the courts if he can do his job and simply do his job!!!!!!!!!!

[Wolfstar]

But in this conversation I would hope that the government that governs least governs best.

I wholeheartedly agree! The only reason I think we need a national policy, i.e., legislation, is because of weakness in current law that were brought to light by the Schiavo case.

[fortunecookie]

Perhaps the de novo review is legally and constitutionally correct, but the case has been fraught with idiosyncrasies and discrepancies for the past 7 or 8 years prior to these last few months, and prior to that there was no cash settlement, there was agreement between husband and parents as to Terri's wishes. Much has been overlooked or dismissed in this case in favor of death, where the usual precedent had been to err in favor of life. But now, it seems, her fate is sealed and she has, as I have said, surely suffered enough, more because of the lack of basic care than because of her condition, imho.

That one thing is for sure, God is waiting for Terri with open arms.

[rwfromkansas]

I said yesterday that if this went beyond noon, I would have to change my position and say let her go.

I stand by that now. Quite frankly, I am very sad. But, dragging her back from the brink of death by feeding her now would seem to be more cruel than just letting her go. Terri has been played with too much...first she gets her feeding tube removed, than a court orders it back in.

She is at death's door. Enough is enough.

Pray for her comfort. My word I can't imagine the pure agony of her parent's and I just wish I could hold them in my arms all day long. God please comfort them!

Please Lord Almighty, give them peace!

And welcome Terri to your throne.

[rwfromkansas]

He is not a Christian, even if he claims to be. He was on his church's inactive roll before leaving the other day because he had not been to services in so long.

He does not have a credible profession of faith and evidence of salvation.

My church would have excommunicated him a long time ago.

[Dog]

Thank you Michael...for posting this.

[teenyelliott]

Once again, you have provided stunningly accurate comments. You never fail to represent what I feel. Very, very good post.